Chapter 219: New Year's Grand Match +++
The grand match dragged on for nearly five hours. The winner was Grandfather. I don't know much about Go, so I couldn't follow the flow of the game or read the board, but from what the commentators were saying, it sounded like it had been incredibly close. The level of play was so high that there were moments when even the crowd gasped in surprise—tens of thousands of people forced to watch, and even they were impressed. Not that I felt any of it, since I didn't get a damn thing.
But is Grandfather really playing by Han Guk-young's instructions right now? That would mean his opponent is playing at an insanely high level.
Han Guk-young is the guy nicknamed the strongest Go player in human history. Sure, there are modern trends and all, but Grandfather's probably prepared and studied with him for the past few months. In other words, the current Han Guk-young feels like a legendary prototype Zero unit that's just received the latest firmware update.
And he looks ridiculously young right now.
His opponent looked dejected with that bushy hair, making it hard to tell at first glance, but if you paid a bit of attention, he seemed like he'd just hit adulthood or maybe high school age. Of course, you can't judge age by appearances. Take Grandfather—he's pushing eighty, but he looks like a regular guy. With anti-aging tech that straight-up rolls back your biological age, it's impossible to guess from looks alone. This isn't some half-assed suppression or cosmetic youth serum; it literally rewinds your body to the target age. If you aim for twenty, boom, you're twenty. Dream tech. So distinguishing age visually is basically out of the question. Though aiming young probably costs a fortune.
Even accounting for that, people have an aura that comes with age, and Grandfather's opponent, Ji Seong-jun, just didn't give off any adult vibe. Generously, maybe college student?
"Ah~. That was truly a magnificent match. The level was so high."
"Right? Every move was airtight, no gaps at all."
"To see such a high-level game right from the start of the league—it's thrilling. Especially Go Yeong-man 1-dan; he's been full of surprises, like in last year's special match."
"I know, I'm shocked too. But while he's impressive, we should really pay attention to Ji Seong-jun 3-dan's growth as well."
"Exactly! Ji Seong-jun 3-dan completely fixed the weaknesses he showed last year. He used to be weak on defense compared to his attacks and made a lot of endgame mistakes, but today? Not a trace."
"And then Go Yeong-man 1-dan just crushed that improved Ji Seong-jun completely..."
The two commentators gushed in review. On the screen, Grandfather reviewed the game with a serious expression, while Ji Seong-jun 3-dan scratched his bushy head and placed stones with his cotton-like hands, tapping them down.
I haven't known Grandfather long, but I'd never seen him look that serious.
Gominji kept picking fights with me at every opportunity. She'd just tried scraping at me with some bullshit, but sorry, it didn't faze me one bit.
— Why am I broke?
— I've got 16 trillion.
— Trillion my ass lololol
— My villa's front yard
— Dig the dirt and you'd find it
— Kid
— Whose nose you sniffing?
— The hate's too much
— No such land exists
This damn pussy. Why does she spout such nonsense? Her mental world's straight-up childish.
— If Gramps ditches you
— What can you even do?
— My husband's the only one
— Don't talk like a thug
— You cute thing
— Say it pretty and lovely^^
— Flips you off
— Score well
— And I'll wrap you warm in my pussy
— Massage you lots
— Talk shit like that
— And you're done
— Flips you off
— You fucking bitch
As I bantered with Gominji, the screen showed Grandfather and Ji Seong-jun shaking hands and bowing. They probably hadn't finished the full review, but they couldn't keep everyone waiting forever, so they skimmed the key points. After the greetings, they left the match hall and headed to the stage.
As Grandfather appeared, everyone stood and gave a standing ovation. He raised his hand happily in response.
I've never seen him look this pleased in my life.
Guess Go really is the answer.
+++
All the Go-related events wrapped up. It was 6:50 PM. Next up was the New Year's celebration banquet, and holy shit, the scale was massive. While the match ran in Taeyang Palace's plaza, the huge banquet hall across the way had been prepped non-stop, resulting in a mega-banquet for thousands at once. And they were running four such halls simultaneously to celebrate the first night of the new year.
On the surface, it looked like just partying, drinking, and having fun—and you could do that if you wanted. But the real essence of these banquets? Networking and politics. Meeting people, introductions, favors exchanged, squeezing out max gains. That's the fun of it.
Not for me, though. I'm not the sharpest, and I suck at politicking. Diving into a nest of slimy snakes like that just drains my energy. The good news? As direct lineage, I don't have much to worry about. They'll accommodate my mood, not the other way around. I can pretty much do whatever. Probably.
I'll wander around a bit and take notes.
As CEO of a company myself, I need to soak this in. Back home, I have to throw something similar—or at least comparable—for Goryeo Entertainment, its subsidiaries, and all the folks under them. New year calls for that festive vibe.
"Thought I'd die of boredom for real."
Gominji came over, sighing dramatically. Her face was unnecessarily flushed—anyone could tell something was up.
"Sis, bored? Or just happy thinking about my dick? Your face is all excited."
"Fuck off~. You think thinking alone makes me happy~."
She sidled up slyly, touching my body. Especially tapping and stroking around my dick— I was about to get hard right there.
"Gotta experience it to be happy~."
"Sis, but your pussy's trash right now, can't do it."
"Who said trash? It's fucking primed."
"We'll see."
I peeled her hand off. Felt good, but with people around, too clingy was a no-go.
"Cousins sticking too close, aren't we?"
See? Incoming check.
Wait, and who is this lady...?
"Anyone'd think you're real siblings."
"...Siblings usually get along worse."
It was Gominyoung who'd cut in, grabbing Gominji's shoulder and subtly pulling us apart.
"Is that so?"
Even toward her own daughter, she seemed oddly cold.... Scary when the VP looks at you like that.
Gominji felt the fear but still confronted(?) her.
What the hell is this.
Catfight I'd only heard about. Two women battling over me. But with their hazy eyes, don't they already know? Gominji knows her mom fucks me, Gominyoung knows her daughter does too.... From the family vibe, it seems like I'm supposed to scoop up all the women anyway.
True. Reality and emotions are different stories.
Looks like avoiding drama with women is impossible in my life.
"Why are you staring at Mom like that?"
"W-what? Just looking."
"Not some feral cat."
"Feral cat?!"
The conversation was veering weird. Time for mediation.
"Ahem, shall we head out? Dinner time's approaching. Grandfather's waiting. And the others."
"..."
Gominyoung gave me a complicated look, then averted her eyes. Her face was flushed too.
"That guy's ditched us."
"...Pardon?"
"Haa."
What the hell suddenly. Ditched?
"Said he has to review the game with that Ji Seong-jun or whatever kid and just peaced out."
"..."
"Told us to eat without him."
"Wait, that's it...?"
That's all??
"Jeez. That old coot always bounces at the weirdest times."
The other aunts joined in: Gohayoung and Go Seon-ah, each with their daughters Gohayan and Goseonyul in tow.
"Can't be helped. He's not the type to come when called."
"Let's just go ourselves."
Uh.... So we're really dining with this crew? Gonna be awkward as fuck.
I'm the only guy here.
Energy drain incoming. How do I survive this?